MR-compatible Spirometry: principle, technical evaluation and application

¹ Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Dept. of Radiology (E010), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
² Research in Respiratory Diagnostics, Bahrendorfer Str. 3, 12555 Berlin, Germany
³ Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Dept. of Biostatistics (C060), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
⁴ Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Dept. of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
⁵ University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Brunswiker Str. 10, 24105 Kiel

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: m.eichinger{at}dkfz.de.

	Abstract

An MR-compatible spirometer (MRc-spirometer) is presented and its feasibility and accuracy is assessed. The influence of body posture, MR-setting and image acquisition on lung function is evaluated. Dynamic MRI (dMRI) is compared to simultaneously measured lung function.

The MRc-spirometer was developed based on a commercial spirometer and evaluated by flow generator measurements and forced expiratory maneuvers in 34 healthy non smokers (17 f, 17 m; mean age 32.9 years). Mean differences between FEV₁ and FVC were calculated and one sample t-test and Bland-Altman plots generated. Eleven subjects underwent different subsequent MRc-spirometric measurements to assess the influence of the components of the MR system on lung function.

Mean difference of FEV₁ and FVC between the two systems was 0.004 L (95%-CI: -0.04 L to 0.04 L) and 0.018 L (95% CI:-0.05 L to 0.09 L) respectively. In the subgroup analysis an influence of the MR-system on FEV₁ was found. FEV₁ correlated well with the dMRI measurement of the apico-diaphragmatic distance-change after the first second of forced expiration (r=0.72).

In conclusion, MRc-spirometry is feasible, reliable and safe. The MR-setting only has a small influence on simultaneously measured FEV₁. DMRI-measurements correlate well with simultaneously acquired lung function parameters.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H.-U. Kauczor, J. Ley-Zaporozhan, and S. Ley Imaging of Pulmonary Pathologies: Focus on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Proceedings of the ATS, August 15, 2009; 6(5): 458 - 463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Eichinger, S. Walterspacher, T. Scholz, K. Tetzlaff, K. Rocker, C-M. Muth, M. Puderbach, H-U. Kauczor, S. Sorichter, and for the breath-hold diving study group of Baden-Wu Lung hyperinflation: foe or friend? Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2008; 32(4): 1113 - 1116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]